Synergy

@mulveling 

I am hoping that with its 0.6 ohm impedance the Ultra will mate well with my current mode phono stage. It is 1/2 the impedance of the Signature Platinum. MSL cartridges are extremely well made and the styluses are 1st class. But, it may not be what I am looking for. I can get an extremely good price on one which is another factor.  The VDH will work fine in my arm. I would do the Crimson which is reported to have more aggressive bass and punch with two poles. The Clearaudio Titanium is another cartridge I would like to try. 

@mulveling I too have options on owned Phonostage and SUT's.

I can also loan SUT's, Head Amp's and a few other Phon's especially SS to have the non Valve experience. 

Having the options, has for myself been very satisfying, especially when certain permutations have been Jaw Droppingly Good with some favoured Albums. 

Without such options, discoveries will be lesser in the making. 

I would do the Crimson which is reported to have more aggressive bass and punch with two poles. The Clearaudio Titanium is another cartridge I would like to try. 

@mijostyn  That was my thought on the two going in, before hearing them. I liked the traditional 2-pole architecture of Crimson, and the extra output. My Crimson is 0.75 and Colibri is 0.38. 

As it turns out, the Colibri is punchier than expected, with awesome macro-dynamics, and I wouldn't consider that a critical advantage to Crimson. That said, the Crimson is much easier to setup and start enjoying. There's still a touch of sibilance on this Colibri - not sure when that goes away on its own (when fully broken in) or I need to keep tweaking. Sibilance isn't a hot trigger for me and it's not too bad now anyways (was awful earlier in break in). No sibilance issues with Crimson. 

The Crimson is a little smoother and warmer overall. Still not "warm". Midrange isn't "fat" like some Japanese carts, nor dry like some Ortofons. Definitely a great choice IMO. Colibri a little faster and more detailed. 

The matching is different due to the output levels. So far I like Crimson best into my EAR MC-4 SUT, and Colibri best right into the JFET MC stage of Hagerman Trumpet Reference (~ 180 ohms load). The Crimson's output level is somewhat deceiving; it's not as high as I expected for 0.75mV. The AirTight PC-7 rated at 0.6mV is louder in practice. I think Shelters at 0.5mV are a tad louder too. The Crimson is more like what I'd expect for 0.45 - 0.5mV. Colibri's 0.38 isn't far off from what I expected there. Crimson is louder, but certainly not by 6dB. 

Dear @mijostyn : In many of your posts you showed that like objectivity as with the Channel D specs and in some other ways not only in your systems but other external audio items electronics or cartridges however it’s weird that with The Voice you not only do not cares about specs but you love it the cartridge ( Yes I already listened and is a nice item but nothing more than that. ) when this cartridge has was limited frequency range ( similar to the Hyperion. ) with a frequency range swing deviation between 20hz to 20khz of 2db ( Yes Ortofon has in the HF on purpose a little deviation but is on porpose. ).

That you like it so much only confirm our really high tolerance to almost any kind of distortions including you.

Through the time you showed yoo an unstability with different cartridges you own and now you said that will put on sale your Lyra Atlas when you posted here that was the best you ever heard and yes we know that does not exist the perfect cartridge. That unstability with your cartridges could came not because the cartridges but for something or some links in your room/system chain.

Maybe you have several other explanations or reasons. Btw, the game of Dynavector was and is cartridges/tonearm and in the past SUTs but not elctronics.

RT.

@rauliruegas ,

Hi Raul, I am full of distortions and as I get closer to terminal they are getting worse. But, I shall explain anyway. The Lyra is the best cartridge overall I have had in my system. I have decided to keep it and listed it as sold. The reason I listed it is an issue with the company regarding a cantilever that deviated a few degrees laterally, I shall not buy another. My conscious will not allow me to dump it on another person. 

The Voice is a high output cartridge I was using with my old AR phono stage. My current stage does not have a MM input. It is a very dynamic cartridge with excellent tracking abilities and a neutral character. Regardless of whatever it is you are talking about it is an excellent cartridge for the money. If there is an amplitude deviation it works in it's favor.  

I have no idea how Dynavector related to DEQX on their phono stage. It was only mentioned that they were involved somehow. I do not expect the DEQX phono stage to be a stellar performer, but it will give me high output cartridge capability and a place to try SUTs. RIAA correction is in part done digitally. My Channel D does the entire curve digitally and my sense is that imaging is superior although it is extremely close and this could be psychological. It takes a few minutes to change from one to the other as you have to relocate the input XLRs. I could record an album with both analog RIAA and Digital RIAA correction for comparisons sake, but have not gotten around to it. 

At this moment, because I am using a cheap temporary processor/preamp, all bets are off. My DEQX is going to be shipped next week. Once that is set up my room/system performance will be way more accurate than any analog system unless someone is EXTREMELY lucky. My opinion on cartridges will still be flaky because, unlike you, I am a flaky person. Everyone reading! Do not listen to my opinion on cartridges, listen to Raul and @lewm. They know what they are talking about. 

@mulveling and I will keep buying cartridges indiscriminately because we have a compulsive disorder.